Question
Empty control room filled with buttons and sliders used for recording and editing music

What was the first song to use Auto-Tune?

Last updated: August 25, 2025

Auto-Tune revolutionized the music industry when it hit the scene in the late 1990s, turning pitch-perfect vocals into something anyone could achieve with the push of a button. It was originally created to fix minor off-key notes and help singers sound their best, but musicians have constantly found ways to push the tool to its limits. What was the first song to use Auto-Tune?

Correct Answer: "Believe" by Cher

(Source)

Cher's "Believe" came out in 1998, only one year after Auto-Tune was released. Before Auto-Tune, musicians who sang a note off-key would just have to rerecord until they got it right, and audio engineers would splice several takes together to get one solid track. So when Dr. Andy Hildebrand invented Auto-Tune in 1997, it was really intended to just solve a headache in the recording process. Listeners would be none the wiser because it would be so subtle it was practically unnoticeable. But Cher's team viewed it as an instrument and decided to feature it heavily. It gave "Believe" that distinct warbling effect it's now famous for, bouncing Cher's vocals from one not to another like a pinball. Who else but Cher could not only make a commercial comeback, but completely change the music industry while doing so?

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